Week 5 of Badwater training I started to ramp it back up after a pretty slow week 4. Nothing wrong with week 4 being slow, I was coming off a 100-mile race, but still, Death Valley is waiting for me, and I get antsy when I have to take it slow. I finally got into a groove with lifting and the treadmill and my prescribed miles from my coach went from 20 to 43, which helped a little bit with my sanity. Also, I started doing the incline hikes on the treadmill before I ran to get used to running on fatigued legs and to run in warmer parts of the day.
Three fun things happened during the week — specifically, three races now on my calendar.
One, I got confirmation from the Boston Marathon that I’ll be able to get in for the race this October with my streaker status (this year will be my 14th in a row, once you get through 10, you get priority registration and don’t have to worry about the cutoff). I’m super locked in on training for ultras right now, but I do love running Boston every year and have a lot of friends up there I like to see, so it’s nice to know that I’ll be in for that.
The day after I found out about Boston, I found out I got into the Brazil 135. This was a complete surprise — they weren’t supposed to announce the field until July 23. I paced/crewed Brazil in January and had an amazing time. The course is arguably tougher than Badwater — Badwater has 14,000 feet of gain over 135 miles, Brazil has 30,000 over 135 miles. The weather in Badwater is definitely tougher, getting above 120 degrees, but it’s still warm down in Brazil (90 degrees and humid).
Brazil traverses 135 miles through remote, picturesque countryside that’s absolutely amazing, going from Sao Jaoa de Boa Vista to Paraisopolis along the Caminho da Fé (path of faith) from small town to small town. Badwater is an insanely physically demanding test to see if you can escape the depths of hell on foot. Brazil is more of a journey and being able to embark on that journey is the reward for the preparation. I. Can’t. Wait. But, Badwater first!
Third race, long story, but I signed up for a 30-hour timed race Nov. 6. A longtime friend of mine has always kind of eyed a 50-miler but never gone for it. I’d always offered to run her through 50 and she took me up on it. She’s going to run the 12-hour, I’ll get her through 50 and then keep going. The 30 hours should be good prep for Brazil, plus you can only race who shows up, but I think I’ll have a decent chance at going for a win, which would be fun.
The other thing that’s really cool about this one to me is it’ll finish on the 30th anniversary of the day I broke my neck (a day I’m always grateful for that I escaped paralysis and was spared the use of my legs) … what better way to celebrate 30 years of a second chance than with a 30-hour run? (I know, lots of you could probably think of better ways!)
That being said, I weighed in at 207 this morning, I’m a little more locked in now after that 100-miler two weeks ago … I believe in myself more and I want to do my best to make the most of these opportunities I have in front of me. Also, pretty sure I’m gonna start in the sauna this week. Keys 100 is coming up!
Training:
- Monday:
- Chest/arms/abs at the gym before work (five stations, 5×20 reps each)
- 5.18 mile run at lunch
- 1:00:49, 3.7 miles at 12.0 incline on the treadmill after work
- Tuesday:
- 59:28, 3.7 miles at 12.0 incline on the treadmill before work
- 6.14 mile run at lunch
- Back/shoulders/abs lifting at the gym after dinner (six stations, 5×20 reps each)
- Wednesday:
- 1:00:04, 3.8 miles at 12.0 incline on the treadmill before work
- 5.16 mile run
- Chest/arms/abs lifting at the gym after dinner (six stations, 5×20 reps each)
- Thursday
- 1:00:53, 3.5 miles at 12.0 incline on the treadmill with 20-pound weighted vest at lunch
- 7.41 mile run after work
- Friday:
- Back/shoulders/abs lifting at the gym after dinner (seven stations, 5×20 reps each)
- Saturday:
- 16.13 mile run in the afternoon
- Chest/arms/abs lifting at the gym after run (seven stations, 5×20 reps each)
- Sunday:
- 59:46, 3.6 miles at 12.0 incline on the treadmill with 20-pound weighted vest in afternoon
- Back/shoulders/abs lifting at the gym after treadmill hike (seven stations, 5×20 reps each)
- 4.03 mile run at night
- Totals for the week: 44.05 miles running, 18.3 miles power hiking on the treadmill, six lifting sessions.
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